MCGING ON SONG
Hat-trick for James as Carnew hold on to beat Rocks
THIS U-17 hurling championship clash between Carnew Emmets and the Arklow Rocks/Avondale combination was played on the Arklow Rocks pitch on Friday night last August 31.
Pitch conditions were ideal for a hurling game. However, the timing of the game start was way too late to ensure safe conditions for the playing of the second half.
The game began at 7.10 and half time was blown for at 7.45pm. With a quick turn round the referee began the second period five minutes later. Darkness was falling rapidly and most of the second period was played in conditions which were dangerous for hurling.
In addition, the referee had to operate without any officials (umpires and linesmen).
A couple of volunteers did help out at either end but keeping tabs on the score can’t have been easy for the referee.
The game itself had the makings of a great contest with two fairly evenly matched teams.
In the first half the Carnew triangle of Owen Young, John Doyle and James McGing in the forward line looked particularly dangerous when in possession early on.
McGing and Doyle exchanged points in the opening five minutes with PJ O’Connor and Liam Somers.
However, when McGing goaled after seven minutes it appeared like Carnew might drive on.
But the Rocks/Avondale combination began to settle and with Shane Browne and Zack Cullen getting on top around the middle, their forwards came more into the game.
PJ O’Connor and Torna Mulcroney began to shine in the half forward line and between them shot seven points in the first half. Their other first half points came from Liam Sommers and Zach Cullen.
Owen Young had two further points from frees for the Carnew lads and John Doyle added another from play to leave the Avondale/ Rocks combination ahead by 0-9 to 1-5 at the break.
The Carnew men began the second half well. Owen Young with a pointed free and two from play by McGing had the Emmets ahead by two points.
Torna Mulcroney pulled one back but then the Carnew men struck two decisive blows.
James McGing scored his second goal of the game and this was followed by another from John Doyle in the twelfth minute.
In fairness to goalie Conor Jameson, he appeared to lose sight of the flight of the ball in the gathering darkness.
Back came the Rocks combination with points from Des Byrne and two pointed frees from PJ O’Connor.
Carnew replied with an Owen Young pointed free and when James McGing completed his hattrick of goals with seven minutes left, the Emmets must have felt reasonably safe.
However, the Avondale/ Rocks combination fought a great last seven or eight minutes.
Zach Cullen got their first goal with five minutes left to play. Carnew lost centre back Eoin Kavanaght oared card at this stage. When Torna Mulcroney got the second goal for the combination with two minutes of normal time left, Carnew backs were now to the wall.
However, they battled well to hold out and the final score of the game came from Shane Browne after three minutes of added time. This was a well contested, sporting game for the most part. What a pity that all of it didn’t take place in daylight.
Scorers - Carnew Emmets: James McGing 3-3, John Doyle 1-2, Owen Young 0-4.
Avondale/Rocks: Torna Mulcroney 1-4, PJ O’Connor 0-6, Zack Cullen 1-1, Shane Browne, Des Byrne and Liam Somers 0-1 each.
Carnew Emmets: Gavin Murray; Dylan Farrell, Thomas Collins, Cormac Redmond; John Young, Eoin Kavanagh, Max Keogh; Kieran O’Keeffe, Ryan Guilfoyle; Conor Wafer, Owen Young, Dan Redmond; John Doyle, James McGing, Shay Guilfoyle. Sub: Caoimhin Rawson.
Avondale/Arklow Rocks : Conor Jameson; TJ Copeland, Des Byrne, Tim Byrne; Ross Kenny, Liam Dickenson, Darren Reilly; Zack Cullen, Shane Browne; Torna Mulcroney, Elliot Young, PJ O’Connor; Kevin Kinsella, Liam Somers, Ryan Barden. Sub: Jason Breen. Referee: Michael Owens.